Former President Donald Trump’s legal battles continue to haunt him as a jury in a civil trial found him guilty of sexually abusing and defaming writer E. Jean Carroll. The verdict has left many wondering how Trump’s supporters will react to this latest blow.
Carroll, a former Elle magazine columnist, accused Trump of raping her in a department store dressing room in the 1990s. Trump has denied the allegations, claiming that Carroll was lying and that he never met her. In response, Carroll filed a defamation lawsuit against Trump, accusing him of lying about the incident and damaging her reputation.
On November 24, 2021, a New York City jury ruled that Trump did, in fact, defame Carroll and that his statements about her were not protected by the presidency. The jury awarded Carroll $449,000 in damages, but she has said that her main goal was to hold Trump accountable for his actions and statements.
The verdict has been seen as a significant blow to Trump, who has long claimed that he is the victim of a witch hunt and that the allegations against him are false. The ruling also raises questions about Trump’s legal future, as he faces numerous other lawsuits and investigations.
However, the big question remains: how will Trump’s base react to this verdict? Will they continue to support him, or will they finally acknowledge his wrongdoing? So far, Trump has downplayed the verdict, calling it “fake news” and claiming that the judge and jury were biased against him. But as more details of the case come to light, it may become harder for Trump’s supporters to dismiss the allegations against him.
Some experts believe that the verdict may cause a rift in Trump’s base, as many of his supporters are fiercely loyal to him and view him as a champion of their values. However, others believe that Trump’s base will remain insulated from the reality of the verdict, as they have been from other negative news about Trump in the past.
Either way, the verdict in the Carroll case is a significant moment in Trump’s legal battles, and it remains to be seen how it will impact his political future.